Monday, December 3, 2012

Ghostly Pick: Unbroken (Ruined series)

Spooky and satisfying, Unbroken takes the reader back to New Orleans and the French Quarter. Rebecca Brown is seeing ghosts again; one in particular—a handsome young boy with startling blue eyes. He asks for her help in finding a lost locket entrusted to him by painter Edgar Degas.

Frank worked the docks in both New York and New Orleans. He was on his way to deliver the locket to artist Edgar Degas’s cousin’s home in the Quarter when he was murdered. As a ghost, Frank can’t pick up or deliver things—he needs a human to intervene on his behalf. When he sees Rebecca walking with Lisette—a ghost she helped last year—he knows that Rebecca can see ghosts and will likely help him.

Rebecca arrives in New Orleans with her friend Ling and her father—who is in the city for work. She can’t wait to see Anton—a boy she was crushing on. The fact is—he can’t wait to see her either. He tells her that Toby may be in town and will probably cause trouble for them.

As Rebecca gets closer to finding the locket, Toby closes in on her. Ghosts are popping up everywhere, some friendly like Frank and others not so friendly at all.

Morris paints a picture of New Orleans with its moss hung trees, lively jazz bands, raucous street festivals, the din and clamor of the Quarter, and its ghostly architecture and lonely graveyards with family mausoleums and statues of saints and angels. Publishers Weekly raves, “A haunting love letter to New Orleans.”

Highly, highly recommended grade 7-up. Anyone who loves a ghost story will love the Ruined series.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I purchased this book for my library. I did not receive monetary compensation for this review.

This review has been posted in compliance with the FTC requirements set forth in the Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (available at ftc.gov/os/2009/10/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf)

Pamela's Picks for Top Teen Titles 2014

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Books With Teen Appeal

When I read a YA book that I KNOW will appeal to teen readers, I make sure and review and blog it. This blog is not about award winning books or books that adults want teens to read. It is about TEEN and tween and sometimes younger readers, and sometimes it's about technology. From the best books of the year to the best livestreaming app, you'll find it here.

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Welcome to Young Adult Books Blog

Welcome all friends/readers to this blog. It is my aim to read and review what is the best and newest in young adult fiction, and to offer my take on technology uses in the library and beyond.

I am happy to read and review what other readers recommend. Advance reader copies from publishers are always welcome. Please see my Blog and Review policy page for details.

I like to sponsor book giveaways and will likely post a book giveaway at least weekly and sometimes monthly. Check postings for current book giveaways. My reviews also appear on A Book and A Hug website at http://www.abookandahug.com/ I am a reviewer for School Library Journal and a member of Escape Hatch, a writers' group.

Contributing to The El Paso Times newspaper, I write a bi-weekly YA novels review. You can access it online at reviews

When not reading, blogging, reviewing or writing, you will find me on a beach somewhere...any beach!

About Me

I am a YA librarian, reviewer, blogger, newspaper columnist and writer. This is a picture of my buddy Beaudacious! Isn't he beautiful?
I review Advance Reader Copies for publisher. If I receive a book from a publisher, I put the disclaimer on the review.
I love YA lit and read as many new books as I can. I like to be able to recommend books that I have read and enjoyed. Kids love when I recommend a book just for them! And it gets a conversation going about books.
My reviews are shared on a book website developed by a fellow librarian at A Book and a Hug. My blog is now a featured blog of the Texas Library Association. This blog was awarded High School Blog of the Year 2012 by the Texas Library Association.
Chair, District 6, Texas Library Association 2014
Mentor Librarian 2011 Texas Library Association
Mentor Librarian 2011 YALSA, ALA (American Library Association)
Give the gift of reading to every child you know. It will change your life and make the world a better place!